Discussion on Hakko 474 Desoldering Station

[BravoV]

I've been dreaming a de-soldering station for years, and recently scored a NOS Hakko 474, complete with all accessories. (Hakko 474 unpacking & inspection photos)

Just want to hear from others 474 long time users and owners, if there are any tips or suggestions for a new and noob owner ? Such as certain little tips or tricks that may prolong it's life, maintenance and etc, or even better mistakes you've made that I can avoid if possible. Besides the genuine parts are so expensive.

Really don't want to ruin this precious piece of new gadget caused by inexperience user. 

TIA

[Mr.B]

I have had a Hakko 474 for about 7 years now.
I don't do a lot of through hole desoldering so I may not be qualified to comment.
When I purchased it I also bought loads of the commonly used spare consumables - Expensive!
I have not taken any special precautions with the machine.
Treat the tip similar to what you would with a normal soldering iron - Clean with brass wool, suck solder out of the tip while still hot, etc...
The only consumables I have used over the years are the felt pads that filter the suction at the top of the "Solder Catcher".
Clean the Solder Catcher Spring regularly.

All good... A pretty bomb proof tool really.

[digsys]

We've have a few, 474-62, some for ~8 yrs. While it is better than most I've used, it isn't perfect.
I find the 815 gun is better than the other options, and they are changeable. It has a short throat, so is less likely to clog and MUCH easier to clean when it does.
Lead-free solder is a bastid though. You have to keep it clean often, I do a few sucks with leaded solder after every use.
The lead-free is very corrosive and also blocks filters quicly, so keep pleny on hand. Use the screwdriver tool to regularly scrape out the corrosive cr@p in the throat.
They have a new FM series with an extra heater right at the back of the throat, to solve this problem, but until 1-2 of our 474s die, I'm happy to just keep cleaning.
Oddly enough, it is far better than the $2,000 POS JBC I bought :-) .. I use that as a mantelpiece ! We also have a FM202, pretty cr@p as well. Lead free solder sucks :-)

[BravoV]

I have had a Hakko 474 for about 7 years now.
I don't do a lot of through hole desoldering so I may not be qualified to comment.
When I purchased it I also bought loads of the commonly used spare consumables - Expensive!
I have not taken any special precautions with the machine.
Treat the tip similar to what you would with a normal soldering iron - Clean with brass wool, suck solder out of the tip while still hot, etc...
The only consumables I have used over the years are the felt pads that filter the suction at the top of the "Solder Catcher".
Clean the Solder Catcher Spring regularly.

All good... A pretty bomb proof tool really.

Yeah, the so called "ceramic filter paper" is expensive here from local authorized distributor. 

Ever tried alternative filter like when you're running out of it ?

About the provided damped sponge, I was thinking, even its not wet, accidentally suck in the water vapour or nearby the nozzle is not good for long term right ?

Thanks Mr.B. 

[digsys]

About the provided damped sponge, I was thinking, even its not wet, accidentally suck in the water vapour or nearby the nozzle is not good for long term right ? 

I also use that steel-wool type cleaner that most stations come with now, but I wouldn't worry in the least about water vapour !!
Flux and leadfree solder does WAAAY more damage !! The little water vapour pretty much just super-heats and passes through. Don't suck a bowl of water though :-)

[BravoV]

We've have a few, 474-62, some for ~8 yrs. While it is better than most I've used, it isn't perfect.
I find the 815 gun is better than the other options, and they are changeable. It has a short throat, so is less likely to clog and MUCH easier to clean when it does.

Noted, will do lurk for alternative cheap or used gun.

Well, mine came with the standard Hakko 809 gun, guess I have to live with it for a while.

Any comment on this 809 gun ?

Lead-free solder is a bastid though. You have to keep it clean often, I do a few sucks with leaded solder after every use.
The lead-free is very corrosive and also blocks filters quicly, so keep pleny on hand. Use the screwdriver tool to regularly scrape out the corrosive cr@p in the throat.

I never do lead free, especially for my projects, and to be honest, as a hobbyist, this gun will mostly used for scavenging old parts or fixing stuffs, but I will keep that in mind when doing the dreaded lead free stuffs.

They have a new FM series with an extra heater right at the back of the throat, to solve this problem, but until 1-2 of our 474s die, I'm happy to just keep cleaning.
Oddly enough, it is far better than the $2,000 POS JBC I bought :-) .. I use that as a mantelpiece ! We also have a FM202, pretty cr@p as well. Lead free solder sucks :-)

Wow .. 2K dollars down in the toilet, feel sorry for you.


So as long I "diligently" clean the nozzle and the throat of the heating element, it should last quite sometimes isn't it ?


About spring filter, did you guys replace it a lot like the paper filter do ? These is also quite expensive.

Thank you digsys, really appreciate your experiences sharing. 

[BravoV]

About the provided damped sponge, I was thinking, even its not wet, accidentally suck in the water vapour or nearby the nozzle is not good for long term right ? 

I also use that steel-wool type cleaner that most stations come with now, but I wouldn't worry in the least about water vapour !!
Flux and leadfree solder does WAAAY more damage !! The little water vapour pretty much just super-heats and passes through. Don't suck a bowl of water though :-)

Ha..ha.. yes, don't worry, I use only brass wool intensively for cleaning all my soldering activities.

[BravoV]

Another thing, about cleaning the pump head, dissembling the valve head, checking and cleaning those valve & fixing plates as mentioned in the manual for maintenance, all these years using it, did you clean yours ? How often ?

[digsys]

  ... Any comment on this 809 gun ? ...

Clogs a LOT easier and faster, so keep it clean !!

...  this gun will mostly used for scavenging old parts or fixing stuffs ...

When de-soldering old or foreign joints, ALWAYS apply leaded solder w/flux first !! There are some terrible alloys of solder out there, even worse than lead-free !!

... Wow .. 2K dollars down in the toilet ...

A lesson in life :-)

... So as long I "diligently" clean the nozzle and the throat of the heating element, it should last quite sometimes isn't it ? ...

Well, you have 2 users with 7-8 yrs already. Not a bad start

...  About spring filter, did you guys replace it a lot like the paper filter do ? These is also quite expensive ...

If you carefully unscrew the solder blocks, you'll do no damage. If it is tight, heat it up. Physical damage is the only way you can really wreck them

[digsys]

Another thing, about cleaning the pump head, dissembling the valve head, checking and cleaning those valve & fixing plates as mentioned in the manual for maintenance, all these years using it, did you clean yours ? How often ? 

errrrrr ummmm errrrr ,,,  once <runs away>

[BravoV]

Another thing, about cleaning the pump head, dissembling the valve head, checking and cleaning those valve & fixing plates as mentioned in the manual for maintenance, all these years using it, did you clean yours ? How often ? 

errrrrr ummmm errrrr ,,,  once <runs away>

LOL ... what happened ? 

[Mr.B]

errrrrr ummmm errrrr ,,,  once <runs away>

errrrrr ummmm...  Perhaps I should do mine this weekend...

[BravoV]

errrrrr ummmm errrrr ,,,  once <runs away>

errrrrr ummmm...  Perhaps I should do mine this weekend...

Mr.B, if its not troubling you too much, take a close up photos when you clean that thing that made digsys ran away  , please.

Also, one spot that I'm also interested, the main stepdown transformer primary wiring like the cables color and connections, and please take close up photo of the transformer's label too, mine is on the top.

I will take few snapshots today and will post here to compare with yours, as I have question regarding mains voltage connection at my transformer, as yours is 230 V 50 Hz mains right ?

Thanks in advance.

[digsys]

Alright FIIIINE, I'l tell you !! We bought a new one this year .. immediately upacked it, removed stoopid sticker on the front and fired it up !
For days it didn't suck very good, tried everything, not very happy. Then one day, I noticed the sticker where I stuck it ... Remove the pmp clamp screw BEFORE you use this device, or else
damage may occur. Opened it up, and yup, cooked it. In my defence .. who puts a STOOPID warning sticker over the controls !!
There should have been a Notice sticker to read the Warning sticker ..

[BravoV]

Alright FIIIINE, I'l tell you !! We bought a new one this year .. immediately upacked it, removed stoopid sticker on the front and fired it up !
For days it didn't suck very good, tried everything, not very happy. Then one day, I noticed the sticker where I stuck it ... Remove the pmp clamp screw BEFORE you use this device, or else
damage may occur. Opened it up, and yup, cooked it. In my defence .. who puts a STOOPID warning sticker over the controls !!

Duh  , how the pump was cooked ?

Do you mean the whole pump , the motor , the pump or just those plates ? Please tell us more.

There should have been a Notice sticker to read the Warning sticker ..

LOL, this Warning sticker of mine is already big enough and its stick on top of the controller box, don't think people will miss it.

Where do you suggest to add the addition Notice sticker to read the Warning sticker ? 


I took the photos of that when I unboxed it, put here as reference for future "young players" ... 

[Mr.B]

Mr.B, if its not troubling you too much, take a close up photos when you clean that thing that made digsys ran away  , please.

Also, one spot that I'm also interested, the main stepdown transformer primary wiring like the cables color and connections, and please take close up photo of the transformer's label too, mine is on the top.

I will take few snapshots today and will post here to compare with yours, as I have question regarding mains voltage connection at my transformer, as yours is 230 V 50 Hz mains right ?

Thanks in advance.

Will do.
I will get on to it this weekend.
And, yes, 230v 50Hz

[BravoV]

Attached photo of my 474 transformer (with notes), shot at the primary winding side with 3 wires which are brown, blue and orange. Only blue and orange are connected to the main switch and fuse.

In the photo's inset, at the back label, this unit is rated at 230 Volt, while my mains is at 220 Volt. Also at the label, there is a handwritten mark of "/" (slash) character between "220" and "230 V.

As there is an unused but self terminated brown wire just hanging there alone, curious if that is for 220 Volt ?

Curious to see yours Mr.B.

[Mr.B]

@BravoV
Photos as requested.

I have done a full service of the iron.
Not particularly dirty.
Re-assembled, tested, all good.

[Mr.B]

More photos
(This 60 second posting restriction is a pain - Yes, I fully understand why it is there.)

[Mr.B]

More photos

[BravoV]

Mr.B, thanks a lot for the excellent and details photos there, really appreciate the effort. 

Now, few comments and questions from those photos :

- Our transformers are identical from the part number and also same manufacturer, good to know. 

- From the transformer primary wiring, yours (240 V) is different from mine (230 V), although I understand there is no "significant" difference, wonder if I can find the "correct" connection for my 220V mains. Guess time to do inductance and DCR measurements on the primary windings.

- Since you're using the Hakko 816 handle, did it come as standard ? Or you purchased it separately ? If you did, what happened to the Hakko 809 handle ? Troublesome ?

- About the pump diaphragm, looks like the membrane probably got pulled while secured or someone did it wrong ? (pointed by red arrows) I guess on next cleaning, you need to replace it as it may leak at that spot, cmiiw.

As comparison, attached below, yours vs mine, the circle imprinted at the membrane is still very smooth.

[BravoV]

As mine is bought NOS and NIB, the seller said its never powered on since 90s  , I didn't turn it on until yesterday. Even though the pump is working, the suction power was very weak, and suddenly probably after less than 10 minutes of using, I heard some loud clicking noise inside the pump head, powered it off instantly.

Opened up the top pump head, discovered that the plastic valve plate is disintegrated, yellowed, hardened and cracked all over the places.  . 

Luckily, after thoroughly cleaned using soft cloth, cotton balls and IPA as recommended by Hakko at the pump head, there are no chips or dented surface caused by those rattled small pieces of hardened valve plastic inside. Also the pump diaphragm rubber is also still in good shape (photo at my previous post)

Bought from Hakko distributor, the replacement A1014 valves. And from the color, its obvious mine is way too old compared to the new ones isn't it ?

Also bought few others parts, and Mr.B you're right, these little funny plastics, small tiny rubbers and funny wires are really expensive. 

[helius]

I have a 472 that looks very similar: only the layout of the pump is different (180° between the manifolds instead of 90°). The tubing on it is very yellow and stained with flux. I need to try cleaning it with alcohol/acetone and some pipe cleaners.

[BravoV]

I have a 472 that looks very similar: only the layout of the pump is different (180° between the manifolds instead of 90°). The tubing on it is very yellow and stained with flux. I need to try cleaning it with alcohol/acetone and some pipe cleaners.

Same here, its just mine is still spanking new and very clean, but still the tubes are so yellow (attached photo).

Curious why they changed the layout from 180 degress to 90 ?

[helius]

Pure speculation, but it's possible that they could balance the "cranks" to make less vibration that way.
Edit: it also looks like the motor is larger. The 472 has a 22V, 12W 4-pole induction motor positioned vertically, and turning the motor sideways required the 474 to use 90° manifolds.